Rakiura was captured on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island, near Stewart Island, on Saturday April 18 along with five other kakapo. Two more kakapo were captured on the same day on Anchor Island in Fiordland. All eight of the flightless native parrots were then taken by helicopter to Invercargill airport, where they were placed on an Air New Zealand domestic flights to Christchurch, then Auckland. Rakiura was meant to be freed with the others that day, but an infection meant she was taken to Auckland Zoo for treatment instead.

Kakapo have been released on Little Barrier to see if they can successfully raise chicks there without aid. Their progress will be closely monitored and support will be provided, if it’s required, to keep the birds alive. Kakapo were living on Little Barrier from 1982 to 1999. They were removed when kiore (Pacific rats) were eradicated from the island. Four of the kakapo released on April 18 had lived on Litte Barrier before: Ox and Merty (male) and Flossie and Heather (female).

Rakiura is Flossie’s daughter and has never lived on Little Barrier before. The other kakapo new to the island are Tiwai (15), Doc (10), both males, and Hananui (10) a female.

September 2012. Kakapo Recovery was dealt a disappointing blow in August with the discovery of another dead bird – the sixth during the past year. Barnard was found dead by kakapo rangers on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island when they went looking for him for his annual transmitter change: here.